King Charles to lead first Remembrance Day service since Queen's death

Across the UK, a two-minute silence will take place at 11am and members of the royal family, senior politicians and faith representatives will lay wreaths at the Cenotaph in London.

Charles will lay a new poppy wreath incorporating a ribbon of his racing colours, with the design a tribute to the ones used by both his late mother and his grandfather George VI.

The service will be Charles’ first as King and a poignant moment for the royal family.

King Charles III will lead his first Remembrance Day service as monarch today (Image: PA)

Queen Elizabeth, who died nine weeks ago at the age of 96, considered Remembrance Sunday as one of the most significant and important engagements in the royal calendar.

The Queen is the nation’s longest-reigning monarch and she only missed seven Cenotaph services during her reign, including in 2021 due to a back sprain.

Her Majesty lived through the Second World War as a teenager and she was head of the armed forces.

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A wreath will be laid on behalf of the Queen Consort for the first time as Camilla watches from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building.

A march past is organised with around 10,000 Royal British Legion veterans, representing 300 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations, set to take part.

Wreaths by the Cenotaph after the Remembrance Sunday service in 2021 (Image: Aaron Chown/PA)

An estimated 10,000 members of the public will join them as they line Whitehall to watch the service.

100-year-old Second World War veterans and those who served in recent conflicts including in Afghanistan will be among those marching.

400 members of the South Atlantic Medal Association will march past the Cenotaph to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War.

Bereaved family members will also join them with the youngest marcher being eight years old.

The service on Sunday will also be attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The Prince and Princess of Wales (Image: PA)

Charles began laying a wreath on behalf of his mother in 2017 as she watched from the Foreign Office balcony.

The change was seen as a subtle shift of head-of-state duties.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This year more than ever, we are reminded of the huge debt of gratitude we owe those who lay down their lives to protect their country.

“As we fall silent together on Remembrance Sunday, we will honour the memories of the men and women we have lost and pay tribute to the brave soldiers of Ukraine as they continue their fight for freedom.”

READ MORE:

• Remembrance Day: Why do we wear poppies?
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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Remembrance Sunday is a time to reflect upon the sacrifices made by our veterans and service personnel on operations around the world.

“We must never forget those who gave their lives in defence of our values and our great nation.

“All of us will also be thinking of those brave Ukrainians who are fighting for their very own survival to defend freedom and democracy for all, just as the UK and Commonwealth soldiers did in both world wars.

“Today, members of the UK Armed Forces at Cenotaph and around the world will come together to honour all those who came before them.”